Adult nutrient intake as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Background. This population-based case-control study evaluated nutrient intake as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) among people aged ≥ 50 years in metropolitan Detroit. Methods. Cases (n = 126) were diagnosed between 1991 and 1995 and neurologist-confirmed. Controls (n = 432) were frequency-matched for sex, age (±5 years) and race. Using a standardized food frequency questionnaire, subjects reported the foods they ate within the past year. Results. Estimating the association between PD and risk of being in the highest versus the lowest intake quartile, there were elevated odds ratios for total fat (OR 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] : 1.05-3.58), cholesterol (OR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.14-3.90), lutein (OR 2.52, 95% CI: 1.32-4.84) and iron (OR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.05-3.38). Conclusions. These results suggest an association of PD with high intake of total fat, saturated fats, cholesterol, lutein and iron.